Category Archives: South Carolina

Greenville Co., SC – Simpsonville man charged with felony DUI in death | greenvilleonline.com

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Lawrence R. Brown, III

A 26-year-old man was charged with two counts of felony DUI following the death of a Simpsonville man on Lee Vaughn Road, a trooper said.

Lawrence R. Brown, III of Scuffletown Road, was charged with the two felonies following a two-car accident resulting in a man’s death and injury to his daughter, said Lance Cpl. Bill Rhyne, a Highway Patrol spokesman.

He is charged with felony DUI involving death, and felony DUI involving great bodily injury, according to Rhyne and jail records.

Kevin W. Webster, 38, of 111 Rebecca Lane, died of head injuries in the accident, said Barry Wright, a Greenville County deputy coroner.

via Simpsonville man charged with felony DUI in death | The Greenville News | greenvilleonline.com.

Myrtle Beach: Man charged with felony DUI in fatal crash | MyrtleBeachOnline.com

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Gabriel Lee Gratto

A Myrtle Beach man was charged with felony driving under the influence in connection with a vehicle crash Wednesday night that killed a woman as she drove along Prestwick Club Drive, according to authorities.

Gabriel Lee Gratto, 28, of Myrtle Beach was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center at 12:13 a.m. Thursday and is being held there pending a bond hearing, according to jail records.

Gratto is charged with felony DUI in connection with the crash that happened about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on Secondary Highway 394, said Sgt. Bob Beres with the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Joan Errickson, 56, of Myrtle Beach died from multiple traumas she suffered in the crash, Horry County Deputy Coroner Darris Fowler said. An autopsy was performed early Thursday.

read more here > MYRTLE BEACH: Myrtle Beach man charged with felony DUI in fatal crash, woman identified | Crime | MyrtleBeachOnline.com.

Myrtle Beach: Restaurant manager hit by car dies, driver charged with DUI | MyrtleBeachOnline.com

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Robert Sulem

Robert Sulem

Friends couldn’t help but laugh despite their grief Tuesday as they remembered the life of Jeffrey Scott Rosencrans.

“You can’t help but to laugh,” said Mike Lubas, who’s been friends with Rosencrans since the early 1990s. “To be with Rosecrans was to laugh. Although we’ve been getting together with friends and we share a cry, that cry quickly goes to laughter because you just can’t help it. You can’t help but laugh about your memories with him.”

Rosencrans, 40, of Myrtle Beach died at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center from internal injuries sustained when he was struck by a car Sunday night, said Horry County Coroner Robert Edge said. He had been hospitalized since Sunday night.

He was in the roadway when he was hit by a car traveling south on U.S. 17 near Lake Arrowhead Road about 9:10 p.m. Sunday, said Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins with the S.C. Highway Patrol.

The driver, Robert Matthew Sulem, 41, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with driving under the influence. According to jail records he was released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center Monday morning on $1,000 bail. Collins said the crash remains under investigation. It’s not clear if additional charges are pending.

read more here > MYRTLE BEACH: Myrtle Beach restaurant manager hit by car dies, driver charged with DUI | Crime | MyrtleBeachOnline.com.

Columbia, SC – Woman charged with felony DUI after allegedly hitting, killing man in median | examiner.com

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Aliza Brown

A 26-year-old man was struck and killed over the weekend while he was walking in a painted median and officers said the motorist who hit him was allegedly driving drunk.

On Monday, the Richland County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Mr. Jeremy Ricardo Hayes, of 1302 Bailey St.

Ms. Aliza Brown, the 53-year-old motorist accused of hitting him, was charged with felony DUI, according to media reports.

The incident happened around 9:50 p.m. on S.C. 321 at Crane Church Road, just north of Columbia, according to Coroner Mr. Gary Watts.

Mr. Hayes was walking in the painted median when he was struck by Dodge Stratus, Mr. Watts said.

He was transported to Palmetto Richland Hospital by EMS and died at 12:59 a.m. Sunday.

An autopsy conducted Sunday showed that he died from complications of injuries sustained when he was hit by the vehicle.

Ms. Brown is being held at Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is handling the investigation.

via Woman charged with felony DUI after allegedly hitting, killing man in median – Columbia Crime | Examiner.com.

Charleston Co., SC: Man charged with felony DUI after fatal accident – Live5News.com

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Jonathan Greene. Source: CCDC

Jonathan Greene

An accident involving one car has left one woman dead, according to Highway Patrol troopers.Officials said the accident happened this morning around 9:15.

According to troopers, a car ran off the east-bound lanes of I-26 and struck a tree, around exit 204.Troopers said the driver, Jonathan Greene, is now facing felony DUI charges, along with child endangerment charges.

Highway Patrol said a female passenger was transported to MUSC following the accident, where she later died.  The Charleston County Coroners Office has identified the victim as 29-year-old Haly Branham of North Charleston.

Two children were also in the car.  One, less than one-year-old, was in a car seat, according to officials.  The other, a 3-year-old, was not restrained.

No word yet on when Greene will be in bond court.

via Man charged with felony DUI after fatal accident – Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports.

Charleston, SC: Driver charged with felony DUI in Sunday fatal crash | wcbd-tv

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Lisa Pistolis

Lisa Pistolis

Sunday afternoon police responded to an area of eastbound Mark Clark and the Dorchester Road for a vehicle accident with injuries.

When officers arrived they found one victim ejected from a Jeep Cherokee deceased.  Another victim had several serious injuries.

Two people in a Ford Mustang, also involved in the accident, were not seriously injured.  The driver of the Mustang and passenger of the Jeep were transported to MUSC.

According to police their investigation revealed the driver of the Mustang, Lisa Pistolis, was traveling eastbound on I-526 when her car drifted off the road into the median.  Pistolis attempted to drive back onto the road when she collided with the Jeep.  The vehicle spun out of control and the Jeep flipped several times.

Lisa Pistolis of Hanahan, SC was arrested and charged with felony DUI with death and felony DUI with great bodily injuries.

The Charleston County Coroner’s Office says 35-year-old Serjei Cahuantzi from Charleston died from the accident.

via Driver charged with felony DUI in Sunday fatal accident | WCBD-TV 2.

Kershaw Co., SC: Man charged with felony DUI in crash that killed firefighter | wistv.com

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Lowell Stewart (Source: Kershaw County Detention Center)

Lowell Stewart

A Lugoff man was charged with felony DUI after he was involved in a crash that killed a Kershaw County first responder early Friday morning.

The Highway Patrol says the incident happened on Pine Grove Road near Rabon Road around 4:30 a.m.

Troopers say Lowell Stewart, 27, was driving a 2006 Toyota that collided with a 2008 Kawasaki motorcycle.

The driver of the motorcycle, DeWitt Peake, Jr., 56, was wearing a helmet but died on the scene, according to the Highway Patrol.

Peake was a volunteer firefighter for the Pine Grove Fire Department.

Kershaw County Coroner Johnny Fellers said he and Peake had responded to many accidents together. Fellers said Peake was a “heck of a nice guy.”

Stewart was transported to the Kershaw County Detention Center where he is awaiting a bond hearing.

via Man charged with felony DUI in crash that killed firefighter – wistv.com – Columbia, South Carolina |.

Irmo, SC: Pedestrian dead after being hit by suspected drunk driver | wistv.com

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David Lee Smith (Source: Lexington County Detention Center)

David Lee Smith

A man walking on an Irmo sidewalk died after being hit by a drunk driver Sunday night, according to the Irmo Police Department.

The collision happened on Lake Murray Boulevard near St. Andrews Road around 10:30 p.m.

According to Lexington County Coroner Harry O. Harman, Raymond A. Geiger, 39, of Irmo was walking westbound on the sidewalk in front of 1155 Lake Murray Blvd. when he was struck by a black Land Rover driving eastbound.

The coroner said Geiger was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said David Lee Smith, 46, was driving the Land Rover.

Officers observed that Smith was unsteady on his feet and didn’t seem to grasp the severity of his situation. Smith’s speech was slurred and his eyes were watery and blood shot, police said.

According to investigators, two witnesses told officers that Smith had been weaving across the road just prior to the collision. Based on Smith’s condition and witness accounts of his driving, officers gave Smith field sobriety tests. He failed two of the three tests, investigators said.

Smith is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on felony DUI charges. A judge denied bond Monday morning.

This incident remains under investigation by the Lexington County Coroner’s Office, and the Irmo Police Department, with the assistance of the South Carolina Highway Patrol MAIT Team.

via Police: Drunk driver kills man walking on Irmo sidewalk – wistv.com – Columbia, South Carolina |.

Greenville Co., SC: Suspected drunk driver tries to pass on two-lane highway; leaves one dead in oncoming car | greenvilleonline.com

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Russell Corey Fuller, felony DUI

Russell Corey Fuller

A Fountain Inn man faces felony DUI charges following a Saturday night wreck that left one person dead and another person injured.

Spenser Garrett Smith, 21, of 210 Parsons St., Mauldin, was pronounced dead at the scene of the two-car wreck on State 296, according to Kent Dill of the Greenville County Coroner’s Office. Smith died as result of multiple trauma, Dill said.

Russell Cory Fuller, 27, of 926 Cooper Bridge Road, Fountain Inn, was charged Sunday with driving under the influence/fatality and DUI felony/great bodily injury, according to the state Highway Patrol and information from the Greenville County Detention Center.

Highway Patrol spokesman Bill Rhyne said the wreck happened at 7:35 p.m., one mile north of Woodruff Road.

Rhyne said the collision occurred when the driver of a Lincoln Town Car, traveling south on State 296, attempted to pass another vehicle. The car hit a 1992 Toyota head-on.

The 23-year-old female driver of the Toyota was not wearing a seat belt and was airlifted to Greenville Memorial. Smith was the front seat passenger in the Toyota. He also was not wearing a seatbelt, both Rhyne and Dill said.

via Fountain Inn man faced felony DUI charges | The Greenville News | greenvilleonline.com.

Lexington Co., SC: Repeat drunk driver accused again in death of DOT worker | MidlandsConnect.com

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Photo

Thomas Lee Stafford

Bond is denied for the man accused of hitting and killing a South Carolina Department of Transportation worker.

Stafford appeared in court for a bond hearing Monday at 3 p.m. at the Lexington County Detention center without an attorney. He says he was scared with the incident happened.

“That scared me, that scared me I had no idea,” said Stafford.

Officials with the South Carolina Highway Patrol say 39-year-old Thomas Lee Stafford is charged with felony DUI and leaving a scene involving death.

Stafford could face up to 25 years in prison for each charge.

Monday’s fatal accident is Stafford’s 3rd DUI offense sinc 2008.

Lexington County Coroner Harry O. Harman says Nicholas Johnson, 21, was working in the emergency lane of Interstate 20 when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at the scene from severe head and body trauma.

The vehicle that hit the worker left the scene, but the Highway Patrol stopped the vehicle further down I-20 and arrested Stafford.

The incident occurred on I-20 at mile marker 63 near the Bush River Road interchange westbound around 1:35 pm Monday.

via Man accused of hitting, killing SCDOT worker charged with DUI : News : MidlandsConnect.com.

Anderson, SC: Intoxicated driver dead. Three others injured when Explorer meets Explorer head-on | greenvilleonline.com

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One person was killed and three injured this morning in a crash involving two Ford Explorers in Anderson, authorities said. Janeon Christopher Rice, 30, of 101 Bailey St., died at the scene of multiple trauma to the chest and neck, said Charlie Boseman of the Anderson County Coroner’s Office. Rice, driving a white 1996 Explorer, crossed the center line on Highway 29 and hit a 1998 green Explorer head-on at about 6 a.m., said Lance Cpl. Tony Keller of the South Carolina Highway patrol. Three people in the green Explorer were taken to the hospital, Keller said. One suffered a broken leg, Boseman said, and another was being prepped for surgery. Rice had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit, Boseman said.

Charleston, SC: Woman arrested for DUI after car fire with man trapped inside | www2.counton2.com

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A driver was arrested and charged with DUI after an early morning accident Wednesday.

Around 3:00 AM, a South Carolina Highway Patrol officer patrolling I-26 observed a vehicle pass him at a speed of more than 100mph. The trooper attempted to catch up to the vehicle, but he lost sight of the car twice.

Authorities believe that the vehicle, while speeding, entered the curve near the Bennet Yard Overpass, struck the inside retaining wall, then left the roadway flipping and coming to rest on Louise Drive off I-26.

Responding fire crews arrived on the scene to find the driver’s white Nissan 300zx on fire. Crews worked to put out that fire, but one male passenger was trapped inside. The passenger was rescued and transported to MUSC with potentially life-threatening injuries.

Authorities arrested Kourtnie Burge, of Summerville and charged her with Felony DUI.

via Woman arrested for DUI after car fire with man trapped inside | WCBD-TV 2.

New Boston, Mich: Local high school student killed by suspected drunk driver while traveling with his family | wxyz.com

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Family and friends are mourning the loss of a 16-year-old student from Huron High School in New Boston.

James (Jimmy) Franklin Williams Jr. was killed in a crash in South Carolina while traveling with his family in a Dodge Durango. He was ejected from the vehicle and killed. His father, mother, brother, sister and two family friends were also hurt. one of them, 18 year old Shannon Henry is in very serous condition.

The man who hit the Durango was arrested for drunk driving. Ricky L. Deel is facing five charges including; Operating an Uninsured Vehicle, Driving Under Suspension, Two Counts of Felony DUI with Great Bodily Injury and One Count of Felony DUI with death.

The family of five and two friends were headed to Florida where they were supposed to go on a cruise to the Bahamas.

via Local teen killed by suspected drunk driver while traveling with his family.

Anderson County, SC: Good Samaritan killed in midnight tragedy by suspected drunk driver | greenvilleonline.com

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A 25-year-old Anderson man has died after he was struck by a car alongside U.S. 29 in Anderson County Sunday morning. The driver, Christopher Martin of 759 Cherokee Road in Pelzer, was charged with felony driving under the influence, according to a traffic ticket. Joseph McClellion was alongside the roadway assisting victims of a car accident that had occurred just outside the Anderson Jockey Lot when a southbound Buick veered off the road and struck McClellion and another man, according to trooper Billy Elder of the state Highway Patrol and McCown. McClellion was airlifted from the accident site to Greenville but died of his injuries at 12:55 p.m. The other pedestrian sustained minor injuries, and Martin was not injured, Elder said. The accident occurred around 11:45 a.m. Sunday and is being investigated by the Highway Patrol’s Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team. McCown said McClellion was the half-brother of Matthew McClellion, a 15-year-old T.L. Hanna student who died in a crash on Sept. 7.

Charleston, SC: Suspected drunk driver rear-ends street sweeper; passenger-father dead in crash | live5news.com

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The Dorchester County Coroner’s Office says a 26-year-old man was charged with a fatal DUI incident that killed his father early Thursday morning.

Police arrested 26-year-old Deon Bernard Nero who is accused of rear-ending a street sweeper with his Chevrolet Blazer in the 9000 block of Dorchester Road.

Coroner Chris Nisbet says Nero’s father, 58-year-old Gleefus Nero, was a passenger in the Blazer and died from massive face and head trauma. Nisbet said Gleefus Nero was wearing a seatbelt.

North Charleston Police Department Spokesman Spencer Pryor said the incident happened just after 2 a.m. Police say Nero was driving the Blazer near the intersection of Cannondale Drive, in front of the Cedar Grove subdivision, when he crashed into the working street sweeper.

read more here > Passenger who died in DUI accident was driver’s father – Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports.